Art Blooms is a weekend exhibit featuring the work of more than 35 floral designers from across the region. Each floral designer is assigned a work of art in the Main Gallery or the Mezzanine Gallery and asked to create an arrangement inspired by that work of art. The results are surprising, beautiful, and provocative - and not to be missed. 2017 will mark the 8th year for Art Blooms, an exhibit co-hosted by the Calvert Garden Club and Ann's Circle of Annmarie Garden. Admission is FREE!

Join us as we host the Southern Maryland Carousel Group for The Merry Menagerie!

The Southern Maryland Carousel Group's focus is to construct a full scale working carousel in Southern Maryland. The facility will house a carousel, woodcarving museum with artifacts and pictures of Marshall Hall, a gift shop, and a woodcarving learning center for both children and adults alike.

The Southern Maryland Carousel Group, Inc. consists of volunteers who have donated their time and talents to bringing the vast array of animals to life. Without them, this art project would not be possible.

Annmarie After Hours will be held in conjunction with Fairies in the Garden: April 7, 2017

The Color & Light Society began as an informal group of artists taking an advanced oil painting classes with Elizabeth Bygler of Leonardtown, Maryland. The group developed a passion for painting fueled by the belief that exhibiting one's art encouraged learning, development, and pride of original work. They began exhibiting their work in the Annmarie Garden Community Gallery in the early 2000's. After formalizing their organization in 2004, many more art students and other local artists joined the group. Today, there are 24 active artist members. The group has exploded into an artists' haven, showing an impressive variety of oils, watercolors, sculpture, photography and more multi-media. They have exhibited their work at a variety of venues across the region and can often be found volunteering at Artsfest, Annmarie’s annual fine arts festival held every September.

A few months each year, Annmarie’s spectacular Main Gallery is transformed from exhibition space into artist studios, allowing visitors the opportunity to appreciate the artistic process as well as the product. Annmarie seeks artists working in any media to submit proposals to set up a working studio space in the Main Gallery for 1-2 week periods. These studios utilize the artist’s own supplies and equipment. Artists work in their studios demonstrating their processes and techniques to curious visitors. Artists are also afforded space to hang artwork for sale within the gallery for the duration of their studio time. It is our goal to expose visitors to the working process of artists—from concept to finished product. As such, this show is ideal for artists working on a large project or series. Artists must be willing to speak with visitors informally about their work and their process. Overnight accommodations for out-of-town artists are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Through this exhibition, artists gain exposure, sell artwork, and work in a free studio space in a beautiful setting. This is a nice occasion for a serene retreat to immerse yourself in your artwork. Future group or solo show opportunities may also be awarded.

A community art project inspired by the dream of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

From January 14-16, 2017, the public is invited to work with artists Jeffery Weatherford and Carlisha Waktins to create a giant mural that explores the question, what do you stand for?

Led by Jeffery Weatherford and Carlisha Watkins, this project uses the metaphor of feet and shoes to allow visitors the opportunity to creatively and thoughtfully reflect on what they themselves value, stand for, and deem most important. Visitors will work with the artists to create a mural of footprints to be displayed through February, alongside the artists' Foot Soldiers mixed media shoe exhibit.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Jeffery B. Weatherford, Oxon Hill, Maryland
Born in High Point, North Carolina, Weatherford has been a creative spirit from a very young age. A multi-faceted artist, Weatherford received his Master Of Fine Arts from Howard University in May of 2016. Since graduation, he has been picked up by Simon & Schuster as an illustrator, with his debut title, "You Can Fly: Tuskegee Airmen," whichhas been making notable waves in the children's book realm. His work as an illustrator recently got him invited to Ghana and Senegal on an international tour where he taught youth about being an illustrator and performed his poetry for various the communities. Weatherford is a diverse spoken word artist, MC, social media expert, as well as the founder and chief of the global hip hop collective, TRiiiBE Worldwide.

Carlisha Watkins, St. Leonard, Maryland
Watkins is an award-winning photographer with a BA is Visual Arts from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. During college, she participated in five student exhibitions held by the UMBC Photography and Visual Arts Department. Watkins was also selected to be part of UMBC's Art Week that celebrated artwork from UMBC students, The Visual Arts Department awarded Watkins with an Outstanding Artwork in Photography Award for The House of Roots photography collection that she produced for The Senior Exit Exhibition.

Watkins has had her work published in Prince George's Suite Magazine for Harold T. Fisher's stage play, "Two Weeks Until the Rest of My Life." She was also selected as an exhibiting artist for the Starry Night Artist Exposure Program for Art Basel Miami in 2013 and 2014 at the Select Fair. As an exposure artist, she showcased The House of Roots and Black Beauty: Unbleached at the Select Fair.

In July of 2014, Watkins exhibited her artwork at the Cox Art Center for Calvert's Best Photography Show and the Bombay Sapphire's Artisan Series help by Russell Simmons's RUSH Arts Gallery. Currently, Watkins works as a freelance photographer under her photogrophy business and continues to spread her Black Beauty: Unbleached camaign on a global scale.

Archaeologists estimate that humans domesticated dogs approximately 30,000 to 40,000 years ago, but it is likely that our fascination with animals began long before then. Most of us have tried to touch a beautiful bird or hold that furry squirrel. Why do we seek out the companionship of animals? Why do we need to be close to them? What needs to they fulfill? Surveys report that about 62% of American households include a pet. What makes us crave the companionship of furry friends? This exhibit explores the wide world of pets, the role that our faithful companions play in our lives, and the impact that they have on our health and well-being.

From primitive dice games played with small pieces of bones or shell, to early checkers games developed in Ancient Greece, playing games has long been a means of human social interaction. In modern times, game culture has evolved into a multi-faceted, and predominantly commercial enterprise that includes board games, role playing, card games, and digital games, to name but a few. This exhibit explores the broad spectrum of game history, development and innovation, including game design, production, packaging, and marketing. Artists might also consider how the art of games has changed over time and to speculate what the future of gaming might hold. From prehistoric games to virtual reality, this exhibit explores the role that the visual arts have played in the world of games.